ENGLISH
REFERENCE

innovate

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɪnəˌveɪt// UK //ˈɪnəvˌeɪt// in·no·vate Academic Archaic

v. to create new ideas, methods, or products. You use this when someone changes the way things are done to make them better.

v. to introduce new methods, ideas, or products; to make changes in something established. Often used in business and technology contexts to describe systemic improvement.


SIMPLE

The company must innovate to stay ahead of its competitors.

CONTEXTUAL

To survive in the fast-paced tech industry, engineers must constantly innovate and find more efficient ways to process data.

COMPLEX

While many firms are content to refine existing models, truly successful organizations innovate by challenging the fundamental assumptions of their industry and creating entirely new markets.

Synonyms
Origin

First attested in 1548; borrowed from Latin innovātus, perfect passive participle of innovō (“to renew”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Usage

The verb can be used both transitively and intransitively.

Pitfall

The company innovated a new phone.The company innovated with a new phone.When referring to a specific product, 'innovate' usually takes the preposition 'with' or is used intransitively; 'invent' or 'develop' are better for direct objects.

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